Whiteman introduces Global Strike Challenge Team: 13th Bomb Squadron

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Montse Belleau
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Editor's Note: This is the second of a four-part series highlighting the Air Force Global Strike Challenge.

When the going gets rough, the president doesn't call Minot or Barksdale AFB, he calls Whiteman! This is according to the conventional load crew team competing in this year's Global Strike Challenge.

The 509th AMXS Conventional Load Team consist of Staff Sgt. Joe Allstott, load crew team chief, and weapons load crew members Staff Sgt. James Merrell, Senior Airman Michael Phillips, and Senior Airman Jordan Bland.

In 2010, Whiteman's loaders, led by Master Sgt. John Herndon, won the Fairchild trophy for best Bomb Wing, and he says he anticipates this year's team will to do the same.
"We expect nothing but perfection from our members," he said. "I know they are ready to bring the trophy back to Whiteman."

The expectation of perfection from the load crew overseers has made the team confident they will win.

"Obviously Whiteman is going to win the Global Strike challenge because we are a national asset here," Bland said.

"We are hand-picked to load bombs on the B-2, so we already know that we are the best," Allstott said. He feels confident Whiteman is going to smoke the other competitors.

"We proudly serve America, we fight war for America here at Whiteman, we load bombs for global deterrence," Bland said. "We don't just load bombs for fun around here."